Washing machine



c. K. SKINNER 2,192,758

WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 24, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Charles K. Skinner,

Manch E, l ffwywln |s Attorn erg March 5, 1940. l c. K. sKlNNl-:R 2,192,758

WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 24, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Charles KSkir-mej,

is Attorheg.

Patented Mar. 5, 1940 WASHING MACHINE Charles K. Skinner, Southport, Conn., assignorto General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application October 24, 1936, Serial No. 107,417

18 Claims.

'I'he present invention relates to washing machines of the type in which the washing is effected by an agltating member which is moved orbitally in the tub.

8 The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement in washtional side elevation of avwashing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the agitating member and the driving arrangement therefor in section Aon line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan view in section through the driving mechanism of the washing machine;

2o Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the washing machine; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the washing machine. partly in section; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of lthe bottom ol' the tub showing a construction in which the bottom 25 deiiecting vane iis formed integrally from the side and bottomv `walls of the tub; Fig. '7 is a sectional view showing a construction in which the top deflecting vane is formed integrally from the side Walls of the tub; and Fig. 8 is a sectional i view showing amodined construction in which the top deilecting vane is formed integrally from the side walls of the tub.

Referring to the drawings, the washing machine has a sheet metal tub I peripherally supported atits lower end on a rubber bead 2 on the upper edge\of a skirt 3 to which are attached supporting legs 4. A channel-shaped housi g 5, supporting the driving mechanism for the ashing machine, extends diametrically across the 4o skirt and is secured at each end thereto. The

supporting legs 4 are braced by struts 5c extending from the inside of each of the legs to a strap 5b secured across the flanges 5c of the housing 5.

A tubular post 6 is secured to the web 1 of the 45 housing 5, for example, by bolts extending through a flange 8 on the post. The post 6 projects vertically through a central opening in the bottom of the tub, its up r end extending above the normal water level in the tub. 'I'he 50 bottom wall ofthe tub rests on a ange 9 on the post 6 and islamped thereto by a nut I0 threaded on the post. When the nut' I0 is tightened the bottom of the tub is wedged within the skirt 3 against'the bead 2. thereby stiifening the upper Vend of the skirt.

The washing machine is driven by an electric motor II clamped at each end to supports I2 on brackets I3 which are secured to bosses I4 on one of the flanges 5c. The motor shaft I5 is connected through an intermediate shaft I6 and flexible couplings I'I to a worm shaft I8 journalled in the housing 5. The end thrust of the worm shaft I8 is taken by`a ball I 9, which is adjusted by means of a plug threaded into the housing. On the shaft I8 is a worm 2| which meshes with a worm wheel 22 keyed on a vertical shaft 23. The shaft 23 extends through and is joumalled in a tubular p'ost 24, the upper end of which (not shown) is adapted to support a wringer. The wringer post 24 is carried on the housing 5 by means of a sleeve 25 which is bolted to the top of the housing. On the lower end of the shaft 231s keyed a pulley 26 over which runs a belt 21 for driving a pulley 28 fixed on the lower end of shaft 29. The shaft 29 is journalled in the tubular post 6 by means of upper and lower sleeve bearings 30 and 3|.

- The shaft 29. projects above the upper end of the post 6 and the projecting Aend is fixed to the hub 33 of a sleeve 32 which depends around the post 6. The shaft 29 is supported by means of a thrust washer 32a arranged between the hub 33 and the upper end of the post 6. 'I'he lower end of the sleeve 32 is guided by a bearing 34 flxed on the post 6.

The washing action is effected by means of an agltatingmember 36 which is rotatably carried on the sleeve 32 by means of a pin 31 which extends through bearings in arms 38 and 39 projecting from the sleeve.. The agltating member, which may have any desired shape, is shown as a cylindrical roller. The agltating member 36 is. supported by a thrust washer 40 arranged between the arm 38 and a boss 4I on the agitating member. The lower end' of the agltating member lits over a bead or shoulder 42 on a disk 43 which is secured to the lower end of the sleeve 32. 'Ihe agitating member is eccentrically located with respect to the shaft 29 so that as the shaft 29 is rotated, the agitating member is moved orbitally about the shaft. 'This movement of theagitating member causes the clothes to be squeezed between it and the sides of the tub and also causes the clothes to have a relatively slow rotational or swirling movement around the tub in the same direction as the rotation of the clothes vertically along the agitating member. Since other clothes are drawn in to take the place of the clothes which are moved by the ribs,

the ribs are helpful in producing aturnover of the clothes which results in more uniform washing. Since the agitating member is free to turn, the friction between it and the clothes holds it relatively stationary during its orbital movement.

It is important that the friction in the mounting for the agitating member be kept at a minimum so that the agitating member-` can turn freely. This decreases the swirling of the liquid and clothes.

The disk 43 keeps the clothes from being drawn under the lower edges of the agitating member. This is partly due to the bead 42 which fits loosely inside of the agitating member and partly to the downward inclination of the disk which causes the clothes to slide radially outward away from the agitating member.

In order to increase the uniformity of the washing action two sets of vanes are provided projecting from the side walls of the tub. The lower vanes 4,5 are inclined upwardly from the bottom of the tub with respect to the direction of rotation of the shaft 29. 'I'he upper vanes 46 areinclined downwardly toward the bottom of the tub. In the operation of the machine the. clothes are given a rotational movement around the tub which is in the same direction as the rotation of the shaftl 29, although considerably slower. This rotational movement is assisted by the friction between the clothes and the continuously rotating disk 43. The vanes 45 and 46 utilize this `rotational movement of the clothes for the purpose of giving the clothes a roll-over movement which will continuously change the distribution of the clothes in the tub so that all parts of the clothes will be subjected to the washing action. The action of these vanes is shown 'diagrammatically in Fig. 5. As shown in this figure, the vanes 45 deilect the clothes upwardly from the bottom of the tub in the direction generally shown by arrows 41. There are also upward currents on the under side of the vanes 45 which carry the clothes upwards. These upwardly deected clothes strike against the under side of the vanes 46 and are deflected downwardly toward the bottom of the tub as shown by the arrows 46. The vanes 45 and 46, therefore, cause the clothes to be moved from one level to another level, producing a roll-over movement of the clothes which changes the distribution of the clothes in the tub so that uniform washing action is secured.A

the vanes 45 and against the lower surfaces of the vanes 46.

From another aspect, the vanes 46 have a combing action on the clothes preventing tangling or knotting. The mass of clothes on striking the leading ends of the vanes is deflected on either side. Slight tangling of the clothes is thereby straightened.

Figs. 6, 7, and 8 show constructions in which the vanes are formed integrally with the walls of a sheet metal tub. In the construction shown in Fig. 6, the lower vane is formed by a die which draws material inward from the side wall of the tub and upward from the bottom wall of the tub. There is sufcient material so that the metal can ow during the drawing operation to form the vane. When the vane is formed in this manner there is no undersurface, thus avoiding a reentrant portion beneath the vane which would bediiiicult to clean. From the standpoint of thefrom t e side walls ofthe tub. The lower surface 4 is substantially the sameas the lower surface of the vane 46. 'I'he upper surface 50 is inclined toward the side walls of the tub. The purpose of this inclination is to provide suilicient material so that the material can flow under the operation of the forming die. The inclined suring machine since it is a relatively inactive surface.

Fig. 8 shows another construction ,for forming the upper vane. In this construction the entire side wall of the tub above the lower surface 5I of the vane -is drawn inward by the forming die. This construction has the disadvantage that the rim of 'the tub is not circular but it is satisfactory from the washing standpoint. A

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a washing machine having a tub, an agitating member in the tub, means for moving said agitating member orbitally in the tubwhereby the clothes are squeezed between the agitating member and the sides of the tub and the clothes f'are given a relatively slow rotational movement around the tub, and means including stationary vanes having a radial dimension of the order of the radius ofthe agitating member for effecting movement of the rotating clothes at one level toward another level whereby the clothes are given a roll-over movement about a horizontal axis said vanes extending circumferentially around the tub and having leading ends presented to the rotating mass of clothes whereby the vanes have a combing action thereon preventing tangling. p

2. In a washing machine having a tub, a vertical shaft in the tub, an agitating member in the -tub, eccentric means on the shaft rotatably carrying said agitating member, means for rotating said shaft whereby said agitating member is given an orbital movement in the tub squeezing the clothes between it and the sides of the tub and giving the clothes a relatively slow rotational movement around the tub, and a stationary vane having a radial dimension of the order of the eccentricity of th eccentric means said vane eX- tending circumferentially around the tub and having a leadingend presented to the rotating mass of clothes whereby the Vane has a combing action thereon preventing tangling.

3. In a washing machine having a tub, a vertical shaft in the'tub, an agitating member in the tub, eccentric means on the shaft rotatably carrying said agitating member, means for rotating said shaft whereby said agitating member is given an orbital movement in the tub squeezing the clothes between it and the 'sides of the tub and giving the clothes a relatively slow rotational movement around the tub, and a stationary vane having a radial dimension of the order of the eccentricity of the eccentric means inclined downwardly toward the bottom of the face 50 does not affect the operation of the wash- Y tub for deecting the rotating clothes toward the bottom of the tub whereby the clothes are given a roll-over movement, said vane extending circumferentially around the tubv and having a leading end presented to the rotating mass of clothes whereby the vane has a combing action thereon preventing tangling.

4. In a washing machine having a tub, a vertical shaft in the tub, an agitating member in the tub, eccentric means on the shaft rotatably carrying said agitating member, means for rotating said shaft whereby said agitating member is given an orbital movement in the tub squeezing the clothes between it and the sides of the tub and giving the clothes a relatively slow rotational movement around the tub, a lower stationary vane inclined upwardly from the bottom of the tub in the direction of rotation of the clothes for deflecting the clothes upwardly, and an upper stationary vane inclined downwardly with respect to the rst mentioned vane toward the bottom of the tub for deiiecting downwardly said upwardly deflected clothes whereby the clothes are given a roll-over movement.

5. In a washing machine of the type having a rotatable agitating member therein, a sheet metal tub having a portion extending in from the side and bottom walls, the upper' surface thereof providing a vahe inclined circumferentially upward from the bottom of the tub which is substantially free of reentrant portions beneath its upper surface.

6. In a washing machine of the type having a rotatable agitating member therein, a sheet metal tub having a portion extending in from its sidewalls having its lower surface extending circumferentially around the tub and radially inward a distance of the order of the radius of the agitating member and having its upper surface inclined radially toward the top of the tub, said y vane extending circumferentially around the tub and having a leading end presented to the rotating mass of clothes whereby the vane has a combing action thereon preventing tangling.

7. In a washing machine of the type having a rotatable agitating member therein, a sheet metal tub having a portion of its' sidel walls extending inward, the lower surface thereof providing a circumferentially extending vane extending radially inward a distance of the order of the radius of the agitating member, said vane having a leading end presented to the rotating mass of clothes whereby it serves to comb and untangle the clothes.

8. In a washing machine having a tub, a tubular post extending through the bottom of the tub, a shaft extending through said post. a member connected to the upper end of said shaft having a sleeve depending around said post and having a disk at its lower end, said sleeve and disk being restrained from rotation relative to said shaft, eccentric means on said member, an agitating member rotatably carried on said eccentric means, means for rotating said shaft whereby said agitating member is given an orbital movement about the tub, squeezing the clothes between it and the sides of the tub, and a shoulder on said disk projecting within the agitating member and providing a bearing therefo 9. In a washing machine having a tub, a shaft extending through the bottom of the tub, eccentric means connected to said shaft for rotation thereby, an agitating member rotatably carried on said eccentric means, a disk adjacent the bottom of the tub connectedk to the shaft. the upper surface of the disk being adjacent the lower edges of the agitator and the periphery of the disk projecting beyond the lower edges of the agitator whereby the upper surface of the disk clothes are moved vertically along the surface of the agitator during the operation of the agitator.

11. In a washing machine having a tub, an agitator having its lower end at the bottom of the tub, a disk rotatable relative to and between the bottom of the tub and the lower end of the agitator, the upper surface of the disk being adjacent the lower edges of the agitator and the periphery of the disk projecting beyond the lower edges of the agitator whereby the upper surface :of the disk is in contact with the liquid around the agitator, means for moving the agitator orbitally in the tub, and means for rotating the disk relative to the agitator and to the tub.

l2. In a washing machine having a tub, a disk adjacent the bottom of and rotatable relative to the tub, an agitator eccentric to the axis of rotation of the disk having its lower end adjacent the upper surface of the disk, the periphery of the disk projecting radially beyond the lower end of the agitatorwhereby the upper surface of the disk is in contact with the liquid around the agitator, a shoulder on the disk projecting within the agitator adjacent its inner surface, and.

means for rotating the disk relative to the agitator and tothe tub.

13. In a washing machine having a tub, `a`ro' i tatable agitator having its lower end adjacent the bottom of the tub, a disk aring downward and outward from the agitator toward the bottom of the tub, the axis of rotation of the agitator being eccentric to the axis of rotation of the diskmmeans for rotating the agitator, and means for rotating the disk relative to the agitator and to the tub.

14. In a washing machine having a tub, a rol `tatable agitator having its lower end adjacent the bottom of the tub, a rotatable disk having a portion within its periphery adjacent the lower end of the agitator, the axis of rotation of the agitator being eccentric to the axis of rotation ofthe disk, a portion of the disk adjacent and extending upward above thev level of the lower end of the agitator and preventing ingress of clothes betweenl the agitator and disk, means for rotating the agitator, and means for rotating thehdisk relative to the agitator and to the tub.

15. In a washing machine having a tub, eccentric means rotatable in the tub and having a disk rotatable therewith adjacent the bottom of the tub,an agitator rotatably carried on the eccentric means and having its lower end within theperiphery of and adjacent the disk whereby the upper surface of the disk is in contact with the liquid around the agitator, and means for rotating the eccentric means whereby the agitator is moved orbitally in the tub.

16. In a washing machine having a tub, eccentric means rotatable in the tub and having a dis'k 4 arcanes rotatame therewith adjacent the bottom of the tub, an agitator rotatably carried on the eccen tric. means and having its lower end Within the periphery of and adjacentpthe disk, a shoulder n the disk projecting within the agitator adjan Vagitator in the tub and movable relative thereto for agitating the tliquid and clothes and produc- 'ing a unidirectional circulation of the clothes in a closedpath, and a stationary vane projecting from the walls of the tub into saidclosed` path a distance of the lorder of the radius of the agitator clothes.

and-having a leading end presented to circulating clothes and having a combing action thereon preventing tangling.

18. In'a washing machine having a tub, an agitator in the tub rotatable on a vertical axis, means for rotating the agitator for agitating the liquid and clothes andproducing a unidirectional circulation of the clothes around the tub, and a stationary vane on the side walls of the tub extending circumferentially around the tub for combing the circulating clothes to prevent tangling, said vane having a radial dimension of the order of the radius of the agitator and having a-leading end presented to the circulating CHARLES K.v sKrNNER. 

